20+ years

J. Warren Tompkins has had an enduring impact on South Carolina politics for nearly three decades. Highly regarded as a shrewd political strategist, his advice has been sought throughout the Southeast in local, state and national races.

As a political science major at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Tompkins augmented his political education by volunteering his time and budding talents to local races, working in his first campaign in a 1974 magistrate's race. But it was his volunteer work for Strom Thurmond's 1978 Senate campaign that made people take notice. His tireless efforts on the campaign won him a position as Senator Thurmond's Statewide Coordinator of Special Events. Mr. Tompkins later served as a senior advisor to Senator Thurmond's re-election campaigns in 1984, 1990 and 1996.

His effectiveness got the attention of the South Carolina School Boards Association, where Mr. Tompkins created a legislative agenda for the Association that became one of the most efficient voices for education in the state.

In 1980, Mr. Tompkins served as the Political Director for Reagan for President during the South Carolina Primary. His advice was so valued by the Reagan/Bush Campaign during the first Republican primary in South Carolina in 1980, that he was named Executive Director for the South Carolina Reagan/Bush Campaign for the general election. He later served in the same capacity for the 1984 re-election effort and as a strategist for the 1988 Bush Presidential campaign.

A seasoned political veteran by the age of 29, Mr. Tompkins was appointed Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party in 1981, facing a huge deficit in the party's budget and only a small number of party faithful to help reduce that deficit. Under his leadership, the party was reorganized and fundraising took a different approach. In just 12 months, the deficit was erased and active contributors soared from less than a thousand to more than 10,000 during his tenure.

In 1984, Mr. Tompkins had his greatest impact yet on South Carolina politics. He spearheaded the South's most successful voter registration drive as more than 100,000 voters were signed up as part of a long-range plan Mr. Tompkins developed to impact legislative elections. The result? The numbers of Republican members of the South Carolina House and Senate doubled under his direction. And it was Mr. Tompkins' aggressive pursuit of fairness that resulted in the party's successful 1984 lawsuit concerning South Carolina Senate reapportionment.

In 1986, Congressman Carroll Campbell turned to Mr. Tompkins to help him become South Carolina's second Republican governor. He served as campaign manager during the election and Director for Governor Campbell's transition committee. Governor Campbell appointed him Chief of Staff, where he was a catalyst in the administration's successes, supervising a staff of more than 230 people and budgets totaling more than $91 million.

Mr. Tompkins was the chief architect in developing the administration's strategy for economic development, education reform, tax cuts, environmental protection, and government restructuring. He assisted Governor Campbell in directing more than $400-million dollars in grants for local and statewide programs, which created a blueprint for balanced growth, public safety and environmental protection.

His talent for crisis management was vital in South Carolina's recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo. As chairman of the Emergency Management Review Panel, he directed a statewide effort to develop a comprehensive plan to diminish the effects of future natural disasters in South Carolina.

Since 1991, when he started private practice with J. Warren Tompkins, Inc. Public Affairs Company (which later merged to become Tompkins & Kinard, LLC), Tompkins has successfully provided government and legislative affairs guidance to public and private agencies, political organizations and candidates, corporations and individuals.

In 1992, Mr. Tompkins served as the Senior Southern Advisor for the Bush / Quayle re-election campaign overseeing eleven states in the Southeast. A few years after, in 1994, he became a strategist for Beasley for Governor and later acted as a co-chairman for Governor David Beasley's transition committee. He served as his advisor again during Beasley's 1998 re-election campaign.

In 1996, Mr. Tompkins worked on two federal campaigns in prodigious capacity. He served as the Senior Advisor for Senator Thurmond's re-election campaign and as the Senior Southern Advisor for Dole for President. As the senior southern advisor, he oversaw thirteen southeastern states.

In 2000, Tompkins served as the Senior Advisor to George W. Bush's presidential campaign and the Chief Strategist for South Carolina's Presidential Primary. Bush's victory in the South Carolina primary is credited to saving his bid for president and set off a series of victories solidifying his nomination. After the November 7 election, he was sent to Florida to participate in the historic Florida recount. His primary responsibility was to coordinate the Overseas Absentee Ballots in the election winning Bush the presidency. He acted as Senior Advisor and Atlantic Region Chair to the Bush / Cheney successful re-election campaign in 2004.

In 2002, Tompkins was a general consultant to Lindsey Graham in his successful bid to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Strom Thurmond from 1955 – 2003. In 2004, he was a Senior Advisor to DeMint for US Senate. He also served as the Sergeant at Arms for the 2004 GOP National Convention, a post he also previously served at the 2000 Convention.

In 2005, Mr. Tompkins began a second and separate venture, opening a political consulting firm with business partner Terry Sullivan. The creation of First Tuesday Strategies served as an avenue to separate policy from politics. Mr. Tompkins is currently partnered at First Tuesday Strategies with Luke Byars, former State Director to Senator Jim DeMint.

In 2008, Tompkins acted as a consultant to Senator Lindsey Graham's re-election campaign and as the Senior Southern Advisor to Romney for President.

At First Tuesday Strategies, Mr. Tompkins was a consultant to US Senator Jim DeMint's 2010 re-election campaign. He has also acted as a head consultant to various state and local level campaigns with the political consulting firm. The firm is one of the top political consulting firms in the South and has extensive experience working with earned media, social media, new media, direct mail, marketing, television production, radio production, ad buying, web video production and most notably general campaign consulting. It specializes on grassroots campaigns, political campaigns and corporate development.

Tompkins was a consultant to the Romney for President 2012 campaign.

In the 2016 Presidential Primary cycle, Tompkins managed the Conservative Solutions PAC, which was responsible for overseeing the PAC's $60 million budget assisting Senator Marco Rubio's Presidential campaign. He later served as the Executive Director of the Florida First Project PAC an independent expenditure, which was organized to assist the successful re-election efforts of Marco Rubio to the United States Senate.

Mr. Tompkins currently serves as the executive director to the Conservative Solutions Project, a 501(c)4 promoting conservative values in government.

In late 2016, Tompkins partnered with former State House Representatives Michael Thompson and Boyd Brown to form Tompkins, Thompson, & Brown, a government and public affairs firm providing government consulting and lobbying assistance on the state and federal levels.

Aside from politics, Mr. Tompkins has served on many boards throughout the state. In the past, he served on the Board of Visitors to the Medical University of South Carolina and on the Board at the Governors School for Math and Science Foundation. Currently, he serves as the Vice President of the Cockaboose Railroad Corporation and is a member of the Capital City Club Board of Directors.

Experienced in politics and government, Mr. Tompkins' network of contacts at the federal, state and local levels, coupled with an unparalleled level of expertise and insight, will produce the desired results for government, public and private agencies, political organizations, corporations, and individuals through multi-faceted campaigns addressing every aspect of client's needs.

6-10 years

Brian serves as a senior vice president for McGuireWoods Consulting's state government affairs group in Columbia, South Carolina. Brian represents clients before the state legislature, local governments and executive branch agencies.

Representing a diverse group of clients on a range of issues including energy, transportation, education, alcohol, retail and non-profit advocacy, Brian has helped pass legislation related to emerging transportation, alcoholic beverage control laws and the energy industry. He has extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive government, grassroots and public affairs strategies for his clients.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Brian worked on a number of political and grassroots campaigns, and worked for Congressman Joe Wilson in his district office. Upon graduation from The Citadel, Brian took a commission in the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer. In 2010, he was deployed to Afghanistan with the 1-178th Field Artillery Battalion and served as the unit's Tactical Intelligence Officer. He is currently a Captain in the South Carolina Army National Guard and serves as the legislative liaison.

Brian lives in Columbia with his wife, where they are raising their two daughters.

20+ years

Josh Hughes is a Senior Vice President, lobbyist and attorney at Capitol Consulting. He brings to Capitol Consulting a solid reputation with over 15-years of experience as a Capitol insider with extensive knowledge of the legislative process and policymakers. Over the years, Josh's network of contacts has provided his clients with access to all levels of state government in the legislative, administrative and executive branches. He has a reputation of working tirelessly to achieve successful results for the clients he is privileged to serve.

During his State Capitol lobbying career Josh has provided leadership and strategic advice to numerous corporations, state and national associations as well as nonprofit organizations including Tesla Motors Inc., Caterpillar, the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Greenskies Renewable Energy, the Association of American Publishers, the Corporation for Battery Recycling (Duracell, Panasonic and Energizer), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Splunk Inc., alcohol retailers, distillers and wholesalers. Josh also continues to work with legislative campaigns in both parties bolstering the bipartisan connections of the firm.

Before becoming a State Capitol lobbyist, while in law school Josh was an intern with CB Richard Ellis commercial real estate in New York City. Prior to that Josh worked in the sales department of John Hancock Mutual Funds in Boston. In addition, he was on the account team of Ingall's Advertising.

Josh received his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Literature with a minor in Environmental Studies from Hartwick College. He received a Juris Doctorate degree from Quinnipiac University School of Law.

20+ years

Liz Connelly joins Capitol Consulting as a Government Relations Associate after more than six years on staff in the Connecticut General Assembly. Liz began her tenure with House Democrats as a top advisor to then House Majority Leader Joe Aresimowicz (Berlin and Southington). When Rep. Aresimowicz was elected Speaker of the House, Liz was then promoted to Senior Legislative and Communications Advisor to Speaker of the House. During her time as a senior advisor to the Speaker, Liz developed and maintains a wide network of legislators, state agency, staff and advocacy organizations. In addition, she was responsible for dealing and negotiating with numerous business and industry representatives on behalf of the Speaker. Liz brings to Capitol Consulting a strong work ethic and a clear understanding of the legislative process to immediately assist Capitol Consulting's clients. In addition to lobbying directly for the firm's numerous clients, Liz will manage the firm's social media presence, assist in the firm's marketing for new business and maintain the firm's bill tracking system.

Prior to working in the legislature, Liz served as a Communications and Media Coordinator at The Governor's Prevention Partnership, a nonprofit organization that builds and offers youth prevention programs to prevent substance misuse and bullying.

Liz received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Connecticut, where she double majored in political science and journalism.